FAQs

When and where will the gamescom cosplay contest take place?

The final show will take place on Saturday, August 29 at 5:00 PM in the event arena in Hall 1.

Who can participate in or apply for the gamescom cosplay contest?

Anyone who is at least 18 years old on the day of the final show may apply, provided their cosplay complies with the gamescom 2026 costume rules and the costume is at least 80% self‑made.

IMPORTANT: Employees of exhibitors who have booked a booth in the Cosplay Village, as well as cosplayers who are paid by exhibitors or by Koelnmesse, are NOT allowed to participate in the gamescom Cosplay contest. Further information and requirements can be found in the conditions of participation.

Can I apply with a purchased cosplay?

No. The cosplay must be at least 80% self‑made.

When can I apply to participate in the gamescom cosplay contest?

The application period for the 2026 cosplay contest begins on Wednesday, June 9, and ends on Monday, August 3.

How/where can I apply for the gamescom cosplay contest?

Applications for the gamescom cosplay contest can only be submitted via the online application tool at cosplaycontest.gamescom.global. To edit and submit your application, you must first create an applicant profile.

Applications submitted through other channels or outside the application period cannot be considered.

My cosplay is not finished yet. Can I apply with work‑in‑progress pictures?

Yes, applying with work‑in‑progress pictures is possible. You can also save all information and images in the online application tool and edit or update them anytime until the final submission. We recommend submitting your application as late as possible so the jury can see the most complete version of your cosplay.

Does submitting an application automatically qualify me for the final show?

No. Submitting an application does not automatically qualify you for prejudging or the final show on August 29. After the application deadline, the jury will select the 30 best applicants.

IMPORTANT: This preselection does not replace the on‑site prejudging, which will take place on August 29 starting at 11:00 AM at gamescom.

According to which criteria are finalists selected?

All applications are evaluated online by our jury. Based on the submitted photos and information, the jury rates the overall impression of each application on a scale from 1 to 100 points. The average score from all jury members determines who advances to the final.

How many finalists will there be?

The 30 cosplayers with the highest scores from the jury will qualify for the prejudging and the final show on Saturday, August 29 at 5:00 PM.

When and how will I find out if I am a finalist and can participate in the final show?

On Tuesday, August 11, all applicants will be informed by email whether they are among the 30 finalists selected by the jury.

IMPORTANT: If you receive a positive response, please confirm your participation within 48 hours to secure your place in the final show. Otherwise, we reserve the right to offer your place to the next applicant.

Do I need a gamescom ticket to participate in the final show?

No. If you are one of the selected 30 finalists, you and one accompanying person will receive a day ticket for Saturday, August 29. If you wish to visit gamescom on additional days privately, you can purchase tickets in the official gamescom ticket shop.

According to which criteria are finalists evaluated?

Judging criteria during prejudging

• Craftsmanship of costume / props / wig
• Overall complexity of costume / props / wig
• Use of different techniques
• Use of different materials
• Accuracy compared to the submitted reference
• Complexity and accuracy of makeup
• Proportions
• Overall impression

Judging criteria during the final show on stage

• Entertainment factor
• Mobility while wearing the cosplay and wig
• Use of props and additional accessories
• Clarity of the performance
• Quality of media
• Overall impression

What award categories are there?

• Best Costume – 1st Place
• Best Costume – 2nd Place
• Best Costume – 3rd Place
• Best Dress
• Best Armor
• Best Make‑up / Wig
• Fan Favorite Live
• Fan Favorite Online

Special categories Fan Favorite Live and Fan Favorite Online

The winners of the categories 'Fan Favorite Live' and 'Fan Favorite Online' are audience awards and are not decided by the professional jury.

Fan Favorite Live

The winner is determined using a decibel meter during the final show. The finalist who receives the loudest applause wins.

Fan Favorite Online

The winner is determined before the final show through an online voting process. The finalist with the most votes wins. Voting runs from August 11 through August 28, 2026. All finalists are automatically included; no separate application is required.

Participants are explicitly encouraged to use their social media reach to promote their cosplay and encourage voting. However, the use of paid advertising on social media platforms is not permitted. The use of paid advertising will result in immediate exclusion from this award category.

When and where does the prejudging take place?

The prejudging takes place on the day of the final show, Saturday, August 29, starting at 11:00 AM in separate rooms. Finalists will receive detailed information separately.

Is participation in prejudging mandatory in order to take part in the final show?

Yes. If a finalist does not appear or arrives late for prejudging, the evaluation cannot be carried out or repeated. This results in disqualification from the final show.

Is the stage accessible?

The entrances and exits to and from the stage are accessible. In your application you can inform us if you require a ramp for your performance.

What must I consider for my stage performance?

The maximum performance time is 1 minute. The use of a microphone is not permitted. Spoken elements must be pre‑recorded together with the music and submitted as a single MP3 file with the application.

During the performance, care must be taken not to dirty or damage the stage or the audience area (e.g., with water, fire, ice, confetti, soap bubbles, or similar).

Offensive, glorifying violence, violent, obscene, or similar behavior during the event, prejudging, or the show will result in immediate disqualification.